Access to general practice for people with intellectual disability in Australia: a systematic scoping review

Evaluation indicators for access to cancer screening services: a scoping review

OBJECTIVES

Access to health services has received increasing attention, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) includes 'availability' as one of the indicators to evaluate cancer screening. Evaluating, monitoring, and decision-making on cancer screening depends on systematic quantitative evidence on access to cancer screening, but indicators are currently inconsistently, if they are reported at all. This can be improved by developing systematic indicators for evaluating and reporting access to cancer screening. This requires a thorough understanding of current indicators of access to cancer screening.

STUDY DESIGN

Scoping review.

METHODS

We completed a scoping review of studies on access to cancer screening services from 2013 to 2022. The relevant indicators were extracted, quantified, and then matched to two widely used frameworks: a universal five-dimensional conceptual framework for access to healthcare ('U5D') and a cancer-specific framework/list on the availability/use of screening indicators endorsed by the IARC.

RESULTS

A total of 331 studies on access to cancer screening services were included. Based on the U5D framework, publications from supply side reported approachability (number of publications = 16), acceptability (6), availability and accommodation (44), affordability (30), and appropriateness (11); among this process, 17 sub-indicators were identified. Correspondingly, publications from demand side reported ability to perceive (170), ability to seek (85), ability to reach (58), ability to pay (59), and ability to engage (2); 26 sub-indicators were identified. More macroscopically, the publications of the IARC-endorsed indicators reported availability of policies and guidelines for screening (13), type of screening provided (3), extent of population coverage and participation rates (76), and demographic/behavioural related considerations (167). By integrating the universal and cancer-specific frameworks, a new adapted framework was proposed.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified and collated indicators for evaluating access to cancer screening services, and determined the gaps in the current application of various indicators. The findings are anticipated to facilitate further development of an evaluation indicator system for access to cancer screening services.

Access to primary healthcare services for adults with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean: a review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

PURPOSE

This review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies aims to provide an overview of qualitative evidence on primary healthcare access of people with disability in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as to identify barriers that exist in this region.

METHODS

Six databases were searched for studies from 2000 to 2022. 34 qualitative studies were identified.

RESULTS

Barriers exist on both demand and supply sides. The thematic synthesis process generated three broad overarching analytical themes, which authors have related to Levesque et al.'s aspects of "ability to perceive," "availability, accommodation and ability to reach" and "appropriateness and ability to engage." Access to information and health literacy are compromised due to a lack of tailored health education materials. Barriers in the urban environment, including inadequate transportation, and insufficient healthcare facility accessibility create challenges for people with disabilities to reach healthcare facilities independently. Attitudinal barriers contribute to suboptimal care experiences.

CONCLUSION

People with disabilities face several barriers in accessing healthcare. Lack of healthcare provider training, inappropriate urban infrastructure, lack of accessible transport and inaccessibility in healthcare centers are barriers that need to be addressed. With these actions, people with disabilities will be closer to having their rights met.

Strategies for Accessible Breast Screening for People With Intellectual Disability

INTRODUCTION

People with intellectual disability are less likely to participate in breast screening than people without intellectual disability. They experience a range of barriers to accessing breast screening, however, there is no consensus on strategies to overcome these barriers. Our objective was to reach consensus on the strategies required for accessible breast screening for people with intellectual disability.

METHODS

Fourteen experts participated in a modified on-line Delphi that used Levesque's model of health care access as the theoretical framework. At the end of each round descriptive and thematic analyses were completed. Data was then triangulated to determine if consensus was reached.

RESULTS

After 3 rounds, 9 strategies were modified, 24 strategies were added and consensus was reached for 52 strategies across the 5 dimensions of access. Key areas of action related to (i) decision making and consent, (ii) accessible information, (iii) engagement of peer mentors, (iv) service navigators, and (v) equipping key stakeholders.

CONCLUSIONS

The resulting strategies are the first to articulate how to make breast screening accessible and can be used to inform health policy and quality improvement practices.

Health and wellbeing outcomes associated with loneliness for people with disability: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Loneliness is a significant public health concern due to its detrimental impact on health and wellbeing. Despite people with disability reporting higher levels of loneliness than the general population, there has been little research into how this is affecting their health and wellbeing. In light of this, the aim of our study was to scope both the existing evidence about the health and wellbeing outcomes associated with loneliness for people with disability, as well as the conceptual frameworks and measures utilised in this field of research.

METHODS

To conduct this scoping review, we followed the methodology outlined by JBI and searched MEDLINE, Scopus, Informit, Embase, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed, English-language articles published between 1 January 2000 and 8 February 2023. Two independent reviewers completed screening, full-text review and data extraction, with consensus sought at each stage. Data were analysed using content analysis and presented both numerically and narratively.

RESULTS

Out of the initial 1602 publications identified in the scoping review, only nine were included after duplicate removal, title and abstract screening, and full-text review. This limited number of studies, with the earliest study one published in 2015, represents a key finding. Eight of the nine studies were quantitative, and all were conducted in high income countries. Most of these studies utilised a version of the University of Los Angles Loneliness Scale to measure loneliness and addressed specific impairment groups. Notably, most of the studies identified associations between loneliness and health and wellbeing outcomes for people with disability.

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review highlights the current scarcity of studies examining the effect that loneliness has on the health and wellbeing outcomes of people with disability. As most of the reviewed studies relied on loneliness measures designed for individuals without disability, they potentially overlook the unique life experiences of people with disability. Given that loneliness is an international public health concern, it is imperative that people with disability are not left behind or overlooked in efforts to address the impact of loneliness on health and wellbeing.

Updates in the care of youths with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Since the turn of the new millennium, care for people with intellectual disability/intellectual developmental disorders (IDD) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has drawn increasing attention because of the continuous prevalence increase of these two conditions, the high health vulnerability, especially mental vulnerability, and the crucial role of care provision in the setting of continued deinstitutionalization and the shift to community care. The present review addresses the main issues related to mental healthcare in youth with IDD and/or ASD with a specific focus on adolescence and transition to adulthood.

RECENT FINDINGS

Despite the existence of specific recommendations, persons with IDD/ASD lack access to quality mental healthcare within communities, receive inadequate diagnosis and intervention, including medication overuse as well as ineffective residential, educational, employment, financial, and social support services. The lack of a unified care system that provides services across all domains and life ages may be the cause of users' perceptions and experiences of inefficiencies.

SUMMARY

The scientific community seems to converge on that care should be provided in accordance with principles of interdisciplinarity, life-span view, precision, personalization, and participation. Quality of life appears to be an ideal conceptual reference for care planning and outcome evaluation.

Exploring the Barriers and Expectations Towards Health Care Services Among Parents/Caretakers of People with Intellectual Disability in Kuantan, Malaysia: A Qualitative Study

Backgrounds

People with intellectual disabilities (PWID) are often characterized by challenges in learning and difficulties in performing daily activities. These difficulties can have an impact not only on the individuals themselves but also on the people around them, especially their parents, caregivers, and healthcare workers. Therefore, establishing a positive relationship between parents or caregivers and individuals with disabilities is crucial as a key factor in promoting positive healthcare experiences and outcomes.

Aim

This study aims to explore the barriers and perceptions toward healthcare services among parents or caretakers of people with intellectual disability, including the challenges and their expectations toward healthcare services.

Materials and Methods

This was a qualitative study using purposive sampling. Thirty participants were contacted at the initial stage and invited to participate in the study. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were done among parents and caretakers of PWID who attended Special Care Dentistry and Paediatric Dentistry clinics in Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Centre, Kuantan, Pahang. Topic guides were generated from literature review and expert opinions, followed by pilot interviews to refine them. However, after the interviews were done for the first 13 participants, we have reached data saturation, and no new themes emerged. The interviews were recorded, verbatim transcribed, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's guidelines for thematic analysis.

Results

The satisfaction of parents or caretakers toward healthcare services for PWID and positive experiences in receiving healthcare services were noted. However, the results revealed several barrier themes in seeking healthcare services: lack of availability of parking, longer waiting time, appointment time, crowded environment, limited information on the availability of the services, and longer travel duration. Furthermore, expectation themes emerged from this study: continuous follow-up, accessibility to healthcare services, and staff attitude.